The trumpet family consists of instruments pitched in Bb, C and D/Eb. There are trumpets, piccolo trumpets, pocket trumpets, cornet, flugelhorn, bugle, and bass trumpet. Plus, some other odd and rarely seen horns which you will see at the bottom of the page.

This piccolo trumpet is pitched 1 octave higher than a regular Bb trumpet. They come in 4 valve models, like this one, and 3 valve models like a regular trumpet. If you ever watch CBS Sunday Morning, the theme song is being played by Wynton Marsalis on a piccolo trumpet.

The pocket trumpet is a B♭ or C trumpet that is constructed with the tubing wound into a much smaller coil than a standard trumpet, generally with a smaller diameter bell. It is not a standard instrument in a concert band or orchestra and is generally regarded as a novelty. It has been used by soloists in jazz like Don Cherry.

This particular trumpet is 19” long which is pretty standard. This one is made of brass that is silver plated even though many are brass and are lacquered and they look golden. This is the most common type of trumpet and is used in marching bands, Top 40 groups, jazz bands, orchestras, dixieland bands, etc., etc., etc. If you see someone playing a trumpet, this style of trumpet is most likely what they’re using.

C trumpets are commonly used in classical orchestras, especially where there are many string instruments. These trumpets produce a brighter tone that complements the strings well. Additionally, their smaller size makes them easier to play in various keys, which is advantageous for symphony orchestras

The flugelhorn is often used in jazz music as an alternative to the trumpet. It has a warmer and mellower sound than the trumpet, which makes it suitable for ballads and slower songs. Some Latin groups and orchestral groups use a flugelhorn. As a beginning trumpet player, you don’t normally start on a flugelhorn. Usually, you start playing a trumpet and a few years down the road you will start playing a flugelhorn.

The bass trumpet is a type of low trumpet which was first developed during the 1820s in Germany. It is usually pitched in C or B♭ and sometimes in E♭. Having valves and the same tubing length, the bass trumpet is quite similar to the valve trombone, although the bass trumpet has a harder, more metallic tone.

I know that this looks like a trombone but it’s not. The slide trumpet is an early type of trumpet fitted with a movable section of telescopic tubing, similar to the slide of a trombone. Eventually, the slide trumpet evolved into the sackbut, which evolved into the modern-day trombone.

This unique instrument does have 3 valves and a functional telescoping hand slide. The valves and slide can be used separately or simultaneously. This horn is a creation of the Holton Company. During my high school years, I saw Maynard Ferguson play one of these in concert.